My Ottoman Girl

Still POV dr Zein

I am grateful to be able to finish college on time. And all fees are free due to scholarships from the campus. Thank God I was given a thin brain by Allah SWT. I easily accept any course. All of me was well-wishers.

Allah is Great and Fair. In the past when I was in High School when my friends who have rich parents had to try to take additional lessons in order to follow Matatika, physics and chemistry lessons while in school first, then, it is precisely me who is given the advantages to be a teacher at the tutoring institution (pile) and the honor I can save to buy textbooks and my pocket money and my two twin sisters who is still sitting on the Junior High.

Yes I have twin brothers and sisters. His names are Abraham and Sarah. Ever since my sister was born my father had a mild stroke, my father used to work in the famous cigarette factory in my area. My age is different with the 5-year-old twins. So when the twins were born I just entered Kindergarten and at that time my family had a difficult time.

Abi suddenly had a mild stroke and had to retire early from the cigarette factory that had been supporting our family. Finally, it was Umi who replaced Abi's role as the backbone of the family. Umi asked permission to work in the boarding school owned by Mbah Kayi Haji Abdurahman, my great-grandfather's distant brother.

With a heavy heart Abi allowed Umi to work as a cook in the pesantren. Fortunately, the pesantren is not far from home is only one village away and can be taken on foot. At that time we did not have a motor vehicle. The only old motorcycle Abi sold for additional treatment.

To eat when it was difficult, Umi relied on severance Abi who did not stay a little because in use medicine as well. Often I see Abi and Umi fasting all week for the sake of his children can eat 3x a day. Especially at that time my twin sister needed nutritional intake to grow and develop.

In that difficult time came the help of Allah SWT through the intermediary Mbah Kyai pesantren owner. He did not promise a lot of wages but he opened his hands to take care of me and my twin sister in his boarding school. When Umi worked as a cook with five other mothers for the students who number in the hundreds. Abi helped Mbah Kyai teach teaching, it happened that Abi had been lodged for six years in the salaf boarding school so that Abi had the ability to teach.

Finally since I was in elementary school I have also been a santri in Abah Kyai boarding school. He loved our family very much and he always supported my education until I finished Aliyah Madrasah with the best grades in the province. Mbah Kyai pesantren is very famous in this country anyone will know the pesantren who fought during the independence of Indonesia first.

With regular treatment and quiet life in the pesantren as the teacher slowly sick Abi began to heal. And Umi remains happy to be the cook in this pesantren.

I know, I know, Ning Iqlima Mbah Yai's granddaughter who studied at the state University in Surabaya often stole a glance as I passed in the kitchen to help Mom lift a heavy rice basket to be brought to the dining room santris.

I knew the view was different when I spoke to him when he asked for help. Ning Iqlima was the sweet girl of Kyai Zaenal's first daughter who had suddenly expressed love to me. I'm scared to death if both parents find out that their favorite pitri is in love with their family courtier.

This cannot happen I must know myself and I must fortify this heart so as not to fall for the daughter of a Kyai whom I respect. Ning Iqlima is already in a match with Gus Taufan Kyai's son from a boarding school in Central Java. Their families had already met and agreed to marry their daughter's son when Ning Iqlima rose semester.

Honestly I was a little amazed by the courage of Ning Iqlima who dared to declare his love for me. I who is not the son of Kiai should know myself does not want if this self to visit. I better avoid him before things get complicated and backfire on my family.

I don't want to be the one who doesn't know to thank Abah Yai's extended family. So when I got the news that I received a scholarship to the land of Pharaoh, I immediately welcomed and accepted with joy, because with my departure I studied in a distant country, I can avoid chasing after Iqlima, but both my parents and twin sister are sad to have to part with me.

Finally my family will accept my luck.Tendasirnya both my parents bowed in gratitude to express infinite gratitude to the Khalik owner of our lives.

Tears could not stop flowing when we had to split up at the airport and at that time I was determined to make my parents happy. I never told you about Ning Iqlima. Let it be a memory for my life. It is enough for me and my God to know my true heart.

Seven years I have never returned to Indonesia, I have endured a deep longing for my family. Don't go home, I can eat 2x a day and have a comfortable place to stay here is very grateful. If it wasn't for my introduction to Bramantyo Hafizuddin Birendra back then I would have known what my life would have been like there.

The mediocre allowance from Abi and Umi must be really economical. When I was trying to find a cheap (cost) house to be able to take shelter from the heat and rain in the country of people suddenly I was offered to live with the generous child.

I really owe him. I never knew his family during our college days. Because Hafiz is not a showy person and he lives with simplicity and understatedness. We are friends without knowing each of our family background in Indonesia.

Until one day Umi said she could not send me pocket money and meal money for the next two months because the twins were in need of money to go to high school, by accident Hafiz heard it from the phone that I accidentally speaker. I guess Hafiz was away with her lover and as usual I would be at home passing the time off to learn again deepening my insight into medical science. It turned out that Hafiz was in his closed room.

How surprised I was when I turned around, Hafiz was standing behind me patting me on the shoulder.

I was embarrassed when I found out Hafiz had stolen my conversation with Umi.

"Zein I'm sorry I overheard your conversation with Umi. Don't worry Zein. I still have more allowance to eat both of us for the next two months."

I dare not look him in the eyes in shame. I've been troubling her a lot here.

"Fizz. Don't worry, I still have a little storage to eat. My honor as the custodian of the campus library can still sustain life. "

Hafiz looked at me somehow with what feeling I didn't know. Then I took Hafiz to sit down and enjoy the coffee that I brought a few months ago when I left here.

It was from that cup of coffee that I told him about my family, about all my fate trips so I could get a scholarship to Egypt. But I didn't tell you about Ning Iqlima because we never had a special story.